Tag Archives: year of the villain

Review: Year of the Villain: Joker #1

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Year of the Villain: Joker #1

In general, I haven’t paid too much attention to DC’s Year of the Villain. As a concept, it hasn’t really jumped out to me. But, with John Carpenter writing Year of the Villain: Joker, I had to check it out.

The Joker, and his new companion the Six of Hearts, run around Gotham with the Joker attempting to get his groove back. But how does he go about that?

Carpenter is joined by Anthony Burch on writing duties and the story is rather entertaining. There’s an interesting focus on the insanity of the Joker from the perspective of someone else. Carpenter and Burch capture the humor of the Joker. There’s a playful randomness about it all that keeps readers on their toys.

It’s not all smooth. The comic is a bit of a drag to stat but as the story gets going to entertainment factor ups and goes into overdrive when the Joker crosses path with another villain at a convenient store.

The art is a bit mixed. Philip Tan handles the pencils with Marc Deering, Danny Miki, Jonathan Glapion, and Tan on ink. Jay David Ramos handles the colors. The art towards the beginning of the comic doesn’t feel like the same as what’s at the end. It’s a weird shift. At first, I disliked the art but by the end, I really enjoyed it, especially when Joker does his dynamic duo impersonation. The detail of saggy costumes is fantastic.

Year of the Villain: Joker #1 is a bit mixed for me. I started off hating it but by the end found myself really enjoying it and my opinion completely changed. Where I struggled to start I flew through the end. I almost stopped reading it at one point. But, by the end, glad I didn’t. The comic doesn’t have the insight I’d hope from Carpenter’s writing but it has his humor. Even if you’re not interested in the “Year of the Villain,” this is a comic you can pick up and enjoy.

Story: John Carpenter, Anthony Burch Art: Philip Tan
Ink: Marc Deering, Danny Miki, Jonathan Glapion, Philip Tan
Color: Jay David Ramos
Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Preview: Year of the Villain: Joker #1

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Year of the Villain: Joker #1

(W) John Carpenter, Anthony Burch (A/CA) Philip Tan, Marc Deering
In Shops: Oct 09, 2019
SRP: $4.99

In the Year of the Villain, what’s a Clown Prince of Crime to do when the world has started to accept doing bad as the only way to live? Out-bad everyone else, of course! The Joker is on a mission to get his mojo back and prove to the world that there is no greater villainy than the kind that leaves you laughing.

This special one-shot is co-written by legendary film auteur John Carpenter (The Thing, Halloween) and Anthony Burch (the Borderlands video games), making for a Joker comic that’s twisted in ways you never imagined!

Year of the Villain: Joker #1

Early Preview: Black Adam: Year of the Villain #1

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Black Adam: Year of the Villain #1

Written by Paul Jenkins (Inhumans, Batman: The Dark Knight)
Art by Inaki Miranda (Catwoman)
Colors by Hi-Fi
Cover art by John Romita Jr. and Klaus Janson (DKIII)
In Shops: Oct 23, 2019
Final Orders Due: Sep 30, 2019
SRP: $4.99

Black Adams enters the “Year of the Villain” fray in Black Adam: Year of the Villain #1! Spinning out of the events of Batman/Superman, Shazam! invades Black Adam’s kingdom. His plan? To turn it into a playground for its new ruler, Billy Batson! What happens when an Apex Lex-powered Black Adam faces off against a Batman Who Laughs-infected Shazam!?

Black Adam: Year of the Villain #1

Preview: Year of the Villain: Lex Luthor #1

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Year of the Villain: Lex Luthor #1

(W) Jason Latour (A) Bryan Hitch, Andrew Currie (CA) Francis Manapul
In Shops: Sep 18, 2019
SRP: $4.99

Apex Lex has made his offer to the villains of the DC Universe…but has the super-powered evil genius gotten what he truly desires? The most deadly predator in the Multiverse has set out to answer that question by seeking out his counterparts on other Earths. But will this meeting of the Luthors be the greatest team-up in all of creation…or end in a bloodbath?

Year of the Villain: Lex Luthor #1

DC Reveals Two More Heroes Corrupted by the Batman Who Laughs

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Six corrupt versions of DC’s Super Heroes are coming to terrorize Earth this November and December in a series of six comics running parallel to the story unfolding in Batman/Superman by writer Joshua Williamson and artist David Marquez. Each one-shot or tie-in special spotlights a corrupt version of Shazam!, Supergirl, Hawkman, Donna Troy, Jim Gordon, and Blue Beetle, known within the DC universe as The Infected.

These six issues star DC’s beloved heroes, revealed to be secretly infected by The Batman Who Laughs with a toxin that violently transforms them into the worst versions of themselves. Their buried frustrations and pent-up anger will boil to the surface, unleashing dangerous results. They’ll also be The Batman Who Laughs’ lieutenants against “Apex” Lex Luthor in James Tynion IV and Steve Epting‘s Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen mini-series, launching December 18th.

The final victims of The Batman Who Laughs’ toxins, Donna Troy and Jim Gordon, will be featured in December’s two one-shots. The Infected: Deathbringer #1, by writer Zoë Quinn and artist Tyler Kirkham, hits shelves December 4th and The Infected: The Commissioner #1, by writer Paul Jenkins and artist Jack Herbert, hits shelves on December 18th.

Both of these one-shots will feature covers by Viktor Bogdanovic. One is a story of a hero who is done with bringing peace to a world that cannot be trusted with it; a woman whose newly awakened dark side is ready to burn it all down and forge a new destiny, and the other about a hero whose sense of duty and honor is stripped away; a man who has finally given in to his worst impulses—and he might just take the entire city into the darkness with him…

The Infected: Deathbringer #1
The Infected: The Commissioner #1

Preview: Year of the Villain: The Riddler #1

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Year of the Villain: The Riddler #1

(W) Mark Russell (A) Scott Godlewski (CA) Mikel Janin
In Shops: Sep 11, 2019
SRP: $4.99

Lex Luthor has presented dark gifts to super-villains across the DC Universe, setting off what can only be called the Year of the Villain. Unfortunately, resources are limited, so not everyone got something. The Riddler is one such person, and he is most displeased about it. Was this merely an oversight or a deliberate slight? The Riddler is determined to find out which-and so should you!

Year of the Villain: The Riddler #1

Preview: Year of the Villain: Black Mask

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Year of the Villain: Black Mask

(W) Tom Taylor (A) Cully Hamner (CA) Mitch Gerads
In Shops: Aug 21, 2019
SRP: $4.99

Black Mask was one of Gotham City’s most ruthless crime lords. He had money, power and respect. But after months in the Teen Titans’ secret prison, Roman Sionis is finally free. Given a new purpose and new abilities thanks to Lex Luthor’s offer, he’s found a new racket. Corporate crime not only pays better, but it’s far less dangerous. At least until Batwoman discovers what he’s up to and plans to put an end to Black Mask’s latest power grab. Is Black Mask the same crime boss he’s always been, or has time and a new approach made him something far more unstoppable than he’s ever been?

Year of the Villain: Black Mask

Preview: Sinestro: Year of the Villain #1

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Sinestro: Year of the Villain #1

(W) Mark Russell (A/CA) Brandon Peterson
In Shops: Aug 07, 2019
SRP: $4.99

As the universe tilts towards doom, great forces awake in an effort to stop Lex Luthor’s mad plans. Dispatching Sinestro, Luthor sends the former Green Lantern to bring these old gods under control or destroy them before they reach Earth. Now, wielding the power of the ultraviolet spectrum, Sinestro finds his new foes even more dangerous and perplexing than he expected, when realizes any damage he inflicts is immediately repaired.

Sinestro: Year of the Villain #1

John Carpenter and Anthony Burch Co-Write The Joker: Year of the Villain

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Acclaimed director, screenwriter, and producer John Carpenter and Anthony Burch, writer of the hit video games Borderlands 2 and League of Legends, will make their DC Universe debut in a one-shot comic as part of the publisher’s “Year of the Villain” event in The Joker: Year of the VIllain #1, on sale October 9. 

Now a human-alien hybrid, Lex Luthor has made his appeal to the world, asking its citizens to embrace doom and give in once and for all to evil, humanity’s true nature. In exchange, he will grant them the tools to ascend to their ultimate selves. While some DC villains (and heroes) are willing to hear what “Apex Lex” has to offer, the Clown Prince of Crime isn’t going to wait around until Lex gets to him. This puts The Joker on a mission to get his swagger back in a world gone bad by out-badding everyone else, proving that the greatest evil is always the one that leaves them laughing. 
“The Joker is the greatest villain in comics,” said Carpenter.  “I’m proud to be reunited with Anthony on this project.”

While this one-shot is the first time that Carpenter and Burch will be writing a DC story, they’re no strangers to collaborating on comic books that tell big, over-the-top and bombastic tales, having previously co-written BOOM! Studios’ Big Trouble in Little China: Old Man Jack miniseries. 

The Joker: Year of the VIllain is a 40-page one-shot priced at $4.99 and debuts in comic book stores and online retailers on Wednesday, October 9 and features art by Philip Tan and Marc Deering.

The Joker: Year of the VIllain

Year of the Villain: Who Are The Infected?

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DC has revealed Jock’s final cover artwork for The Batman Who Laughs #7 (on sale July 31) and new “Year of the Villain” promo artwork ahead of Batman/Superman #1 (on sale August 28).

The first arc of Batman/Superman will follow the two titular heroes as they hunt down six infected heroes in the DCU—people revealed to be infected by the Batman Who Laughs with a deadly pathogen that violently transforms them into the evilest versions of themselves. The Dark Knight and the Man of Steel must journey into the depths of Gotham City to learn which of their fellow heroes has been transformed into the horrifying horseman of their most dangerous and deranged foe ever.

But who are the Infected? Fans have already been shown a sneak preview of Batman/Superman #1, revealing that The Batman Who Laughs’ plot is bigger than either the Caped Crusader or the Man of Steel realized and showing the devious killer’s first sentinel: a jacked-up, Dark Multiverse-infected Shazam! Who else has been targeted for similar transformations?  

Check out the two new images below!

The Batman Who Laughs #7 cover by Jock
The Batman Who Laughs #7 cover by Jock
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